Leading with Christian Principles Part 1

by Carmen A. Rivera

Whenever there is a goal, a level of leadership is required so people can work as a team in order to accomplish the goal. As Christians, we want to live a life of value to be a blessing for our family, friends, our community and to all nations. Leaders must be proactive and take ownership in order to lead with Christian principles. In the Bible, we find perfect examples of how Jesus and others led—today I want to focus on the next 15 principles that are related:

1. Seek Him First

Your service and everything that you do must be about Him. Your relationship with God must be your priority. In order to be “spiritually fit” to perform accordingly, a life of prayer, worship, study, practicing His word, and fasting are key requirements, you don’t run a marathon without training, sleeping well, fueling and hydrating the body.  Plan and prepare for success: seek Him first! (Psalm 95:1-6, Mark 1:35, Luke 6:12, Daniel 6:10).

2. Work On Your Character

As a leader, one of your main activities is to interact with people, serve them, guide them, encourage them. To do so in alignment with the scriptures, you have to build a character that can face opposition, challenging decisions and facing temptations. Your character must have a variety of attributes such as compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, tolerance forgiveness, peacefulness, gratefulness and not self-centered. (Colossians 3:12-17).

3. Live With Integrity

Jesus is the perfect example, He never compromised Himself. Other examples of people living with integrity are David, Daniel and John the Baptist among others. Integrity pursues excellence in all it does, whether someone is watching or not and this applies to all areas of your life—personal, family, work, finances, your ministry, social media or doing groceries. The leader works for God, not for men and the leader remains trustworthy and reliable, for integrity practices what it preaches! (Psalm 78:72, Daniel 6:2-4, Luke 3:13, 1 Corinthians 10:31, Daniel 6:25-27)

4. Focus On The Vision To Fulfil Your Mission

Jesus always kept in mind His mission and work intentionally and purposefully on it. It was all about the Father’s business and fulfilling God’s plan, it is about giving glory to Him by serving Him. Don’t get distracted, neither discouraged. (John 17:4, Luke 2:49, Luke 9:51, John 17:4, Matthew 6:33, Matthew 16:24).

5. Leaders Encourage, Build And Equip Others

Jesus delegated leaders to equip His people for works of service, for the Body of Christ to be stronger. Paul built and delegated on Titus. Leaders know the importance of building and equipping others, Jesus gave us a mission to reach all nations, we must fulfil that purpose by building others. Leaders encourage, build, coach, exhort and equip others as instructed in the bible.  (Titus 1:7–9, Ephesians 4:11–13, Exodus 18:21).

6. Keep On Learning

To become better leaders, they work on themselves, on their skills and learning all the time. Be intentional about your personal growth. We all have strengths and weaknesses that we must work on. Leaders invest in their abilities to increase their influence and to serve others better. (2 Peter 1:5-10, Proverbs 22:29).

7. Leaders Will Experience Hard Time And Tribulation

Difficult times produces leaders’ growth—they learn from their experience and from others as well. Leaders ask themselves: How can I help others who are going through something similar? Challenges have a purpose, whatever your desert is, submit to God and remain faithful regardless of the situation. Know that He will be there by your side, so persevere under the trial and be patient. Anticipate being attacked, but also Know God has already defeated the enemy and He is stronger.  (Proverbs 24:10, James 1:12, Isaiah 41:10).